By Karla Radka, Senior Resource Alliance President & CEO
An aging parent or grandparent. An older sibling without children. A spouse with long-term health problems. If you have a loved one who’s getting older, chances are you know what it’s like to be a caregiver – and you’re far from alone. USAging estimates that 53 million people nationwide look after an older adult, or someone with an illness or disability.
Related: Fighting Elder Fraud: Senior Resource Alliance donating cybersecurity app downloads.
Florida has one of the largest populations of adults 65 and older in the country, and most of those residents likely need, or will need, a little extra assistance. In Central Florida alone, Senior Resource Alliance (SRA) helps more than 300,000 older residents and their caregivers every year, many of them from low-income families.
The burden falls disproportionately on women, who make up more than 75% of all unpaid caregivers. With a median age of 50, they tend to be in what’s called the “sandwich generation”: adults who care for both their parents and their older children or grandchildren, making it harder for them to prepare for their own retirement.
This summer, it’s important to remember that caregiving is a labor of love and hard work. Depending on the extent of your loved one’s needs, it might mean spending weekends helping to mow the lawn, drop off food, or help file taxes … or spending every waking moment providing full-time assistance with bathing, dressing, preparing meals, helping with personal care, and other necessary tasks.
All of that can add up to a full-time job that can be physically exhausting, emotionally draining, and financially stressful.
As Florida’s population ages, it’s critical to consider the long-term sustainability of home caregiving and invest in programs that support seniors and their families. RELIEF, available in Orange, Osceola, Seminole, and Brevard Counties, aims to do just that.
Operated through the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation, RELIEF matches pre-screened and trained volunteers with families who are unable to afford caregiving assistance. In the last year alone, RELIEF provided more than 4,000 hours of respite care to families in need with a team of just over 20 volunteers.
The volunteers can’t provide traditional services like meal preparation or bathing, but they can keep the older adult company for up to four hours, allowing family members a much-needed break. Whether it’s an afternoon to run errands or a guilt-free evening out, a little respite makes a big difference.
If you’re a caregiver, remember that it’s okay to ask for help year-round, not just this summer. From support groups and one-on-one counseling … to daycare and respite care,
SRA can connect you and your loved one to the right community resources, with a variety of free and low-cost options designed to meet your household’s needs.
Even if you’re not currently in need of assistance, you can still be part of our effort to create a community where people of all ages can live vibrant, independent, and healthy lives: RELIEF is one of many senior-focused programs in need of volunteers, and every bit of support makes a big difference.
If you’d like to learn more about RELIEF and similar programs, don’t wait: Go to www.seniorresourcealliance.org online or call the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (35337).
